Seat assembly with automatic stow feature

ABSTRACT

A seat assembly for use with a vehicle having a vehicle body includes a seat bottom that is configured to be pivotably mounted to the vehicle body, a seat back pivotally connected to the seat bottom, a seat back latch associated with the seat back for inhibiting movement of the seat back with respect to the seat bottom, and an automatic stow arrangement for moving the seat bottom and seat back from a use position to a stowed position. The stow arrangement is associated with the seat back latch and is configured to release the seat back latch to allow the seat back to pivot in a first direction toward the seat bottom. The stow arrangement is further configured to pivot the seat bottom and seat back in a second direction opposite the first direction to the stowed position.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a vehicle seat assembly that is moveable from ause position to a stowed position.

2. Background Art

Vehicle seat assemblies may be configured to move between use positionsand collapsed or stowed positions. Examples of such seat assemblies aredisclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,705,658 and 6,749,247.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Under the invention, a seat assembly for use with a vehicle having avehicle body is provided. In one embodiment, the assembly includes aseat bottom that is configured to be pivotably mounted to the vehiclebody, a seat back pivotally connected to the seat bottom, a seat backlatch associated with the seat back for inhibiting movement of the seatback with respect to the seat bottom, and an automatic stow arrangementfor moving the seat bottom and seat back from a use position to a stowedposition. The stow arrangement is associated with the seat back latchand is configured to release the seat back latch to allow the seat backto pivot in a first direction toward the seat bottom. The stowarrangement is further configured to pivot the seat bottom and seat backin a second direction opposite the first direction to the stowedposition.

In another embodiment, the assembly includes a seat bottom that isconfigured to be pivotably mounted to the vehicle body such that theseat bottom is moveable between a use position and a stowed position, alatch associated with the seat bottom and being configured to engage thevehicle body to inhibit movement of the seat bottom with respect to thevehicle body, and a motorized stow arrangement for moving the seatbottom from the use position to the stowed position. The stowarrangement is associated with the latch and is configured toautomatically release the latch to allow the seat bottom to pivot to thestowed position.

In yet another embodiment, the assembly includes a seat bottom and amounting arrangement associated with the seat bottom for mounting theseat bottom to the vehicle body, wherein the mounting arrangementincludes a pivot member about which the seat bottom may pivot. Theassembly further includes a first latch associated with the seat bottomand being engageable with the vehicle body for inhibiting movement ofthe seat bottom with respect to the vehicle body, a seat back pivotallyconnected to the seat bottom, a second latch associated with the seatback for inhibiting movement of the seat back with respect to the seatbottom, and an automatic stow arrangement for moving the seat bottom andseat back from a use position to a stowed position. The stow arrangementis associated with the first and second latches and is configured torelease the latches to allow the seat back to pivot in a first directiontoward the seat bottom, and to allow the seat bottom and seat back topivot together in a second direction opposite the first direction to thestowed position. The stow arrangement includes a biasing memberassociated with the seat back for urging the seat back to pivot in thefirst direction toward the seat bottom, a locking mechanism that isconfigured to inhibit movement of the seat back away from the seatbottom after the first latch has been released, and a drive mechanismconnected to the seat bottom and being engageable with the pivot memberto automatically pivot the seat bottom and seat back to the stowedposition.

While exemplary embodiments in accordance with the invention areillustrated and disclosed, such disclosure should not be construed tolimit the claims. It is anticipated that various modifications andalternative designs may be made without departing from the scope of theinvention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a vehicle seat arrangement, according to the invention,having two seat assemblies that each include a seat bottom and a seatback pivotally connected to the seat bottom;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of one of the seat assemblies showing anautomatic stow arrangement for automatically moving the associated seatbottom and seat back from a use position to a stowed position;

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of the seat assembly of FIG. 2 showing theseat bottom and seat back in the use position;

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of the seat assembly of FIG. 2, wherein aseat back frame member of the seat back is shown pivoted toward a seatbottom frame member of the seat bottom;

FIG. 5 is a schematic view of the seat assembly of FIG. 2 showing alocking mechanism of the stow arrangement in a locking position forinhibiting movement of the seat back away from the seat bottom;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of one of the seat assemblies, wherein theassociated seat bottom and seat back are shown in the use position;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the seat assembly of FIG. 6, showing theseat back pivoted against the seat bottom;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the seat assembly of FIG. 6, showing theseat bottom and seat back in the stowed position;

FIG. 9 is a side view of the seat bottom frame member and seat backframe member of the seat assembly of FIG. 2, showing an opposite side ofthe seat bottom frame member and seat back frame member; and

FIG. 10 is an enlarged rear perspective view of a portion of the seatassembly of FIG. 2, showing a drive mechanism of the stow arrangement.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)

FIG. 1 shows a seat arrangement 10 according to the invention for usewith a vehicle having a vehicle body 12. The seat arrangement 10 mayinclude one or more seat assemblies 14 that each have a seat bottom 16and a seat back 18 pivotally connected to the seat bottom 16. The seatarrangement 10 further includes a mounting arrangement 20 associatedwith the seat bottoms 16 for mounting the seat bottoms 16 to the vehiclebody 12. For example, the mounting arrangement 20 may include a pivotmember 22 about which the seat bottoms 16 may pivot, and one or morebrackets 24 for connecting the pivot member 22 to a floor or side wallof the vehicle body 12.

Referring to FIGS. 2-10, a more detailed description of one of the seatassemblies 14 will now be provided, with the understanding that theother seat assembly 14 may have the same or similar configuration. Theseat assembly 14 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 includes first and secondlatches 26 and 28, respectively, and an automatic stow arrangement 29for moving the seat bottom 16 and seat back 18 from a use position,shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 6, to a stowed position, shown in FIG. 8, inwhich the seat bottom 16 and seat back 18 are disposed at leastpartially in a recess 30 formed in the vehicle body 12.

It is noted that the terms first latch and second latch are merely usedto distinguish the latches from each other. Therefore, depending on theorder of presentation of the latches 26 and 28 in the claims, forexample, the first latch 26 may be referred to as a second latch, andthe second latch 28 may be referred to as a first latch.

The first latch 26 is associated with the seat back 18 and is configuredto inhibit movement of the seat back 18 with respect to the seat bottom16. For example, the first latch 26 may be a seat back latch pivotallyconnected to outboard seat bottom frame member 31 a of the seat bottom16, and engageable with outboard seat back frame member 32 a of seatback 18. The first latch 26 is moveable between a first latch position,shown in FIG. 3, for inhibiting pivotal movement of the seat back 18toward the seat bottom 16, and a second latch position, shown in FIG. 5,for inhibiting pivotal movement of the seat back 18 away from the seatbottom 16 after the seat back 18 has pivoted toward the seat bottom 16.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the second latch 28 is associated with theseat bottom 16 and is engageable with the vehicle body 12 for inhibitingmovement of the seat bottom 16 with respect to the vehicle body 12. Forexample, the second latch 28 may be a floor latch that is engageablewith a floor portion of vehicle body 12. While the second latch 28 mayhave any suitable construction, in one embodiment, the second latch 28includes a cam member 33 and a latch member 34 that are connected to afront portion of seat bottom main frame 36 of the seat bottom 16, suchas with a latch bracket 35. The cam member 33 is engageable with thelatch member 34 and is configured to pivot the latch member 34 between alatch position shown in FIG. 3, in which the latch member 34 is engagedwith a striker 37 or other engaging member of vehicle body 12, and arelease position shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. The second latch 28 may alsoinclude one or more springs that urge the latch member 34 toward thelatch position. For example, the second latch 28 may include a camspring 38 engaged with the cam member 33 for urging the cam member 33 ina clockwise direction, with respect to FIG. 3, into engagement with thelatch member 34, and a latch spring 39 engaged with the latch member 34for urging the latch member 34 toward the latch position.

The automatic stow arrangement 29 is associated with the first andsecond latches 26 and 28, respectively, and is configured toautomatically release the latches 26 and 28 to allow the seat back 18 topivot in a first direction toward the seat bottom 16, as shown in FIG.7, and to allow the seat bottom 16 and seat back 18 to pivot together ina second direction opposite the first direction to the stowed position,shown in FIG. 8. Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the stow arrangement 29includes a puller mechanism 40 associated with the latches 26 and 28 forreleasing the latches 26 and 28, a biasing member, such as first spring42, associated with the seat back 18 for urging the seat back 18 towardthe seat bottom 16, a locking mechanism 44 that assists in releasing thesecond latch 28 and inhibits movement of the seat back 18 away from theseat bottom 16 after the second latch 28 has been released, and a drivemechanism 46 for pivoting the seat bottom 16 and seat back to the stowedposition.

The puller mechanism 40 may have any suitable configuration for movingthe first latch 26 from the first latch position, shown in FIG. 3, to anintermediate position, shown in FIG. 4. For example, the pullermechanism 40 may include a cable 48 or other pull member connected tothe first latch 26, a reel or spool 50 for retracting or recoiling thecable 48, and a motor 52 associated with the spool 50 for rotating thespool 50 to thereby recoil the cable 48 from an extended position, shownin FIG. 3, to a retracted position. The spool 50 and motor 52 may alsobe connected to any suitable portion of the seat bottom 16, such as arear portion of seat bottom main frame 36, as shown in FIG. 2.

The first spring 42 shown in FIGS. 3-5 is a torsion spring having afirst end connected to the seat back frame member 32 a and a second endconnected to bracket 54 fixed to outboard seat bottom frame member 31 a.A second spring 56 may also be connected between bracket 54 and firstlatch 26 for urging the first latch 26 into engagement with the outboardseat back frame member 32 a.

The locking mechanism 44 includes a locking member 58 and a lever 60that are each pivotally connected to the outboard seat bottom framemember 31 a. The locking member 58 is connected to the second latch 28,such as with a cable 62 or other connecting member, and is moveablebetween a first position shown in FIG. 3, and a second position shown inFIG. 4 for releasing the second latch 28. Thus, the locking member 58may function as a latch-release member. Furthermore, when the firstlatch 26 is in the second latch position, the locking member 58 ismoveable to a locking position shown in FIG. 5, in which the lockingmember 58 is engageable with the first latch 26 to inhibit movement ofthe first latch 26, and thereby inhibit pivotal movement of the seatback 18 away from the seat bottom 16. The locking position may be thesame as the second position of the locking member 58, for example, orthe locking position may be an intermediate position between the firstand second positions of the locking member 58.

As shown in FIG. 3, the lever 60 is engageable with the locking member58 when the locking member 58 is in the first position to inhibitmovement of the locking member 58 toward the second position. Referringto FIG. 4, the seat back 18 is engageable with the lever 60 when theseat back 18 pivots toward the seat bottom 16 to thereby disengage thelever 60 from the locking member 58.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 9, the locking mechanism 44 may further includethird and fourth springs 63 and 64, respectively, engaged with thelocking member 58 and lever 60, respectively. The third spring 63 urgesthe locking member 58 into engagement with the lever 60(counter-clockwise in FIG. 3), and the fourth spring 64 urges the lever60 into engagement with the locking member 58 (counter-clockwise in FIG.3, and clockwise in FIG. 9).

The drive mechanism 46 is associated with the seat bottom 16 and/or seatback 18 and is engageable with the pivot member 22 to automaticallypivot the seat bottom 16 and seat back 18 to the stowed position. Forexample, referring to FIG. 10, the pivot member 22 may include anelongated pivot body 65 and a first gear 66 fixed to the pivot body 65,and the drive mechanism 46 may include a second gear 67 that isengageable with the first gear 66, and a motor 68 for driving the secondgear 67 about the first gear 66. Furthermore, in the embodiment shown inFIG. 10, the drive mechanism 46 is attached to a rear portion of inboardseat bottom frame member 31 b.

Referring to FIG. 3, the stow arrangement 29 further includes a controlsystem 70 for controlling operation of the puller mechanism 40 and thedrive mechanism 46. The control system 70 may include, for example, apower source 72 connected to the motors 52 and 68, a controller 74 thatincludes control logic for controlling operation of the motors 52 and68, and one or more actuators 76 and 77, such as stow and un-stow pushbuttons, for activating the controller 74. While the actuators 76 and 77may be disposed in any suitable position in the vehicle, in oneembodiment, the actuators 76 and 77 are disposed on the vehicle body 12proximate the seat bottom 16, such as on a D pillar (not shown) of thevehicle body 12.

Referring to FIGS. 1-10, operation of one seat assembly 14 will now bedescribed, with the understanding that the other seat assembly 14 mayoperate in the same or similar manner. When it is desired to move theseat assembly 14 from the use position shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and 6 to thestowed position shown in FIG. 8, the stow actuator 76 may be depressedor otherwise actuated to activate the stow arrangement 29. Referring toFIGS. 3-5, the motor 52 of the puller mechanism 40 then operates toretract the cable 48, which releases the first latch 26. Next, the firstspring 42 pivots the seat back 18 in the first direction, such asforward, toward the seat bottom 16 as shown in FIG. 4. As a result, theseat back 18 engages the lever 60 and causes the lever 60 to pivot inthe same direction as the seat back 18, thereby disengaging the lever 60from the locking member 58.

The puller mechanism 40 continues to retract the cable 48, which causesthe first latch 26 to move to the intermediate position shown in FIG. 4.As the first latch 26 moves toward the intermediate position, the firstlatch 26 engages the locking member 58 and rotates the locking member 58in the second direction, such as rearward. As a result, the lockingmember 58 pulls the cable 62, which releases the second latch 28, asshown in FIG. 4.

The controller 74 then controls operation of the puller mechanism 40 tomove the cable 48 toward the extended position, which allows the secondspring 56 to move the first latch 26 to the second latch position, asshown in FIG. 5. In the second latch position, the first latch 26 isengaged with a projection 78 of the outboard seat back frame member 32 afor inhibiting movement of the seat back 18 away from the seat bottom16.

As the first latch 26 moves toward the second latch position, the thirdspring 63 urges the locking member 58 toward the locking position shownin FIG. 5. In the locking position, the locking member 58 is engageablewith the first latch 26 to inhibit movement of the first latch 26 awayfrom the second latch position. As a result, the locking member 58 mayfunction to inhibit pivotal movement of the seat back 18 away from theseat bottom 16 when the seat back 18 has been pivoted in the firstdirection and the second latch 28 has been released. Thus, the seat back18 may be prevented from returning to the use position when the secondlatch 28 has been released.

Next, referring to FIG. 10, the control system 70 activates the motor 68of the drive mechanism 46, which drives the second gear 67 about thefirst gear 66. As a result, the seat bottom 16 and seat back 18 pivotrearwardly from the position shown in FIG. 7 to the stowed positionshown in FIG. 8.

The seat assembly 14 may also include first and second load floorportions 79 and 80, respectively, that cooperate to define asubstantially flat load floor when the seat bottom 16 and seat back 18are in the stowed position. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 8, forexample, the first load floor portion 79 is connected to the seat bottom16, and the second load floor portion 80 is connected to the vehiclebody 12 and to the first load floor portion 79 with hinge 82.

When it is desired to return the seat bottom 16 and seat back 18 to theuse position, the un-stow actuator 77 may be actuated to cause thecontrol system 70 to activate the stow arrangement 29. Morespecifically, the control system 70 may activate the motor 68 of thedrive mechanism 46, to thereby pivot the seat bottom 16 and seat back 18in the first direction away from the stow position shown in FIG. 8 andto the position shown in FIG. 7. As the seat bottom 16 and seat back 18pivot in the first direction, the second latch 28 re-latches on thestriker 37, which causes the locking member 58 to move to the firstposition shown in FIG. 3. A manual release member 84, such as a pullstrap, connected to the first latch 26 may then be pulled to release thefirst latch 26 from the second latch position. Next, the seat back 18may be manually returned to the use position shown in FIGS. 3 and 6.

The stow arrangement 29 of the invention therefore provides automaticmovement of the seat bottom 16 and seat back 18 from the use position tothe stowed position. Furthermore, the stow arrangement 29 is configuredto automatically return the seat bottom 16 and seat back 18 to theintermediate position shown in FIG. 7, such that the seat back 18 may bemanually returned to the use position shown in FIG. 6.

Although the latches 26 and 28 are shown on the outboard side of theseat assembly 14, and the drive mechanism 46 is shown on the inboardside of the seat assembly 14, these components may be disposed at anysuitable location on the seat assembly 14. For example, the latches 26and 28 may be located on the inboard side of the seat assembly 14, andthe drive mechanism 46 may be located on the outboard side of the seatassembly 14. As another example, all of the above components may belocated on the same side of the seat assembly 14.

While embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described,it is not intended that these embodiments illustrate and describe allpossible forms of the invention. Rather, the words used in thespecification are words of description rather than limitation, and it isunderstood that various changes may be made without departing from thespirit and scope of the invention.

1-10. (canceled)
 11. A seat assembly for use with a vehicle having a vehicle body, the assembly comprising: a seat bottom that is configured to be pivotably mounted to the vehicle body such that the seat bottom is moveable between a use position and a stowed position; a latch associated with the seat bottom and being configured to engage the vehicle body to inhibit movement of the seat bottom with respect to the vehicle body; and a motorized stow arrangement for moving the seat bottom from the use position to the stowed position, the stow arrangement being associated with the latch and configured to automatically release the latch to allow the seat bottom to pivot to the stowed position.
 12. The assembly of claim 11 wherein the latch is connected to the seat bottom proximate a front portion of the seat bottom, and wherein the assembly further includes a mounting arrangement associated with a rear portion of the seat bottom for mounting the seat bottom to the vehicle body, the mounting arrangement including a pivot member about which the seat bottom may pivot.
 13. The assembly of claim 12 wherein the stow arrangement includes a drive mechanism connected to the seat bottom and being engageable with the pivot member to automatically pivot the seat bottom.
 14. The assembly of claim 13 wherein the pivot member includes an elongated pivot body and a first gear fixed to the pivot body, and wherein the drive mechanism includes a second gear that is engageable with the first gear.
 15. The assembly of claim 11 wherein the stow arrangement includes a motorized puller mechanism associated with the latch for releasing the latch.
 16. The assembly of claim 15 further comprising a seat back pivotally connected to the seat bottom, and a seat back latch associated with the seat back for inhibiting movement of the seat back with respect to the seat bottom, and wherein the stow arrangement includes a moveable latch-release member connected to the latch and being engageable with the seat back latch, the puller mechanism is connected to the seat back latch and is configured to release the seat back latch to allow pivotal movement of the seat back, and the puller mechanism is further configured to move the seat back latch into engagement with the latch-release member to thereby move the latch-release member and release the latch.
 17. (canceled)
 18. The assembly of claim 11 further comprising a seat back pivotally connected to the seat bottom, and a seat back latch associated with the seat back and connected to the latch for inhibiting movement of the seat back with respect to the seat bottom.
 19. The assembly of claim 18, wherein the stow arrangement includes a moveable latch-release member connected to the latch and being engageable with the seat back latch, and the seat back latch is configured to move the latch-release member to thereby release the latch.
 20. The assembly of claim 18 wherein the stow arrangement includes a locking mechanism connected to the latch and being configured to inhibit pivotal movement of the seat back away from the seat bottom after the latch has been released.
 21. The assembly of claim 20 wherein the seat back latch is moveable between a first latch position for inhibiting pivotal movement of the seat back toward the seat bottom and a second latch position for inhibiting pivotal movement of the seat back away from the seat bottom after the seat back has pivoted toward the seat bottom, the locking mechanism includes a locking member connected to the latch and being moveable between a first position and a second position for releasing the latch, and wherein the locking member is engageable with the seat back latch when the seat back latch is in the second latch position to inhibit movement of the seat back latch, thereby inhibiting pivotal movement of the seat back away from the seat bottom.
 22. The assembly of claim 21 wherein the locking mechanism further includes a moveable lever that is engageable with the locking member when the locking member is in the first position to inhibit movement of the locking member toward the second position, and wherein the seat back is engageable with the lever when the seat back pivots toward the seat bottom to thereby disengage the lever from the locking member.
 23. The assembly of claim 21 wherein the stow arrangement includes a puller mechanism connected to the seat back latch for moving the seat back latch away from the first latch position, such that the seat back latch engages the locking member and moves the locking member from the first position to the second position.
 24. The assembly of claim 11 further including a mounting arrangement associated with a rear portion of the seat bottom for mounting the seat bottom to the vehicle body, the mounting arrangement including a pivot member about which the seat bottom may pivot, and wherein the stow arrangement includes a drive mechanism supported by the seat bottom and being engageable with the pivot member to automatically pivot the seat bottom.
 25. The assembly of claim 24 wherein the pivot member includes an elongated pivot body and a first gear fixed to the pivot body, and wherein the drive mechanism includes a second gear that is engageable with the first gear.
 26. The assembly of claim 24 further comprising an additional seat bottom that is configured to be pivotally mounted to the vehicle body proximate the seat bottom, and an additional motorized stow arrangement for moving the seat bottom from a use position to a stowed position, the additional stow arrangement including an additional drive mechanism supported by the additional seat bottom and being engageable with the pivot member to automatically pivot the additional seat bottom with respect to the pivot member.
 27. A seat assembly for use with a vehicle having a vehicle body, the seat assembly comprising: a seat bottom; a mounting arrangement associated with the seat bottom for mounting the seat bottom to the vehicle body, the mounting arrangement including a pivot member about which the seat bottom may pivot; a first latch associated with the seat bottom and being engageable with the vehicle body for inhibiting movement of the seat bottom with respect to the vehicle body; a seat back pivotally connected to the seat bottom; a second latch associated with the seat back for inhibiting movement of the seat back with respect to the seat bottom; and an automatic stow arrangement for moving the seat bottom and seat back from a use position to a stowed position, the stow arrangement being associated with the first and second latches and configured to release the latches to allow the seat back to pivot in a first direction toward the seat bottom, and to allow the seat bottom and seat back to pivot together in a second direction opposite the first direction to the stowed position, the stow arrangement including a locking mechanism that is configured to inhibit movement of the seat back away from the seat bottom after the first latch has been released, and a drive mechanism mounted on the seat bottom and being engageable with the pivot member to automatically pivot the seat bottom and seat back to the stowed position.
 28. The assembly of claim 27 wherein the locking mechanism includes a locking member connected to the first latch.
 29. The assembly of claim 27 wherein the drive mechanism includes a motor mounted on the seat bottom.
 30. The assembly of claim 29 wherein the pivot member includes an elongated pivot body and a first gear fixed to the pivot body, and wherein the drive mechanism includes a second gear that is engageable with the first gear and associated with the motor.
 31. The assembly of claim 27 further comprising an additional seat bottom that is mountable to the vehicle body proximate the seat bottom, and an additional stow arrangement for moving the seat bottom from a use position to a stowed position, the additional stow arrangement including an additional drive mechanism supported by the additional seat bottom and being engageable with the pivot member to automatically pivot the additional seat bottom with respect to the pivot member. 